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Aberdeen Standard Investments is a brand of the investment businesses of Aberdeen Asset Management and Standard Life Investments.

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Our team

As one of the largest institutional investors in the UK, it’s only fitting we should have dedicated governance and stewardship teams to focus on developing and implementing a professional approach to the field.

In fact, our teams have been around for a considerable time. Our governance and stewardship team was set up in 1992, and we’re seen as one of the leading UK institutions in this area.

A reputation that opens doors

Our financial strength and professional reputation encourage companies’ management to consider our views, and take them into account where possible.

Our governance and stewardship team works closely with the companies we invest in, promoting compliance with UK and international codes of corporate governance. Companies are also required to demonstrate that they manage their social and environmental impacts effectively. By holding frequent one-to-one meetings with directors of companies and company secretaries, we’re able to raise any concerns with them directly. We also publicise our concerns where appropriate – you’ll find examples of this in the Letters, Statements & Articles section.

Governance and Stewardship

Global Head of Stewardship and ESG Investment Euan Stirling

Global Head of Stewardship and ESG Investment

A chartered accountant, Euan’s career began at Ernst & Young in 1986 and he subsequently held a variety of accounting roles spanning Private Practice, Industry and Local Government. Before joining us, he was a UK fund manager at Schroder Investment Management where he managed several institutional pension funds and charity portfolios. Euan moved into his role as of Head of Stewardship and ESG Investment in 2016 following a fifteen year career with us during which he was a fund manager and investment analyst in the UK Equity Team. Euan’s role brings together the Governance & Stewardship and Responsible Investment teams with a reporting line to the Chief Investment Officer.

Mike Everett

Governance & Stewardship Director

Mike moved to his role as Governance and Stewardship Director in October 2012. In this role he works as part of the Governance & Stewardship team to protect and enhance the value of our clients' investments through the analysis and mitigation of governance risk. He also has specific responsibility for addressing the implications of changes to public policy for Standard Life Investments and its clients.

Alison Kennedy

Governance & Stewardship Director

Alison holds a degree in business from the University of Edinburgh and a Diploma in Banking from the Institute of Bankers in Scotland. Before joining us, she was a UK equity analyst and fund manager at Provident Mutual, Scottish Widows Investment Partnership and Abbey National Asset Managers.

Deborah Gilshan

Governance & Stewardship Director

Deborah joined the ESG Investment team in May 2017. Prior to this, she was Head of Sustainable Ownership at RPMI Railpen (the pension fund for the UK railway industry) where she led their work on active ownership and sustainable investment strategies, having joined as a governance specialist in November 2007. She started her governance career at the UK’s Co-operative Insurance Society in December 2000. Deborah is a member of the 30% Club’s Steering Committee and co-chairs the UK institutional investor group. She is a Fellow of ICSA: The Governance Institute, an IMC member of CFA UK and serves on the FRC’s Stakeholder Advisory Panel and ICGN’s Business Ethics Committee. In October 2011, Deborah founded The 100% Club, a network for professional women.

Nick Duncan

Governance & Stewardship Manager

Nick holds an MA (Hons) in Accountancy & Finance from Heriot-Watt University and an MSc in Investment Analysis from Stirling University. Nick is a CFA charterholder with over 15 years experience in the fund management industry, previously running both Japanese and global portfolios. He has held fund management positions with Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, Abbey National Asset Managers, Aberdeen Asset Managers and Murray Johnstone.

Joanna McNeill

Governance & Stewardship Manager

Joanna has over 10 years' experience in the asset management industry. Prior to joining us, she specialised in corporate governance analysis, engagement, research and voting at Scottish Widows Investment Partnership. Joanna is an associate member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and an IMC member of CFA UK.

Douglas Wilson

Governance & Stewardship Manager

Douglas is a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and also has extensive experience in securities registration, settlements, fund accounting and taxation gained while at Hill Samuel Asset Management.

Nicola Robertson

Governance & Stewardship Process & Controls Manager

Nicola holds an honors degree in Quality Management and Business Studies from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Nicola's role is to manage and continuously improve the Governance & Stewardship team's processes in order to support the team in providing value to our clients through our Governance and Stewardship activities.

Claire Leighton

Governance & Stewardship On Desk Support

Claire joins the Governance and Stewardship team from Standard Life Investments’ Operations department, having worked in Service Delivery. She has over 10 years’ experience in financial services, with previous roles in client reporting and retail banking. Claire holds a BA (Hons) from Edinburgh Napier University.